All this changed when the efforts of school principal Robert Durkin to forge relationships with the local community began to bear fruit. Today, with the active participation of more than 100 prominent companies and institutions, the school has made a dramatic turnaround. Together, school and community have created mentoring programs, a grade 9-12 college awareness program, produced 350 summer jobs, obtained more than $1 Million in technology, are supporting a Saturday Family Institute, integrated job shadowing into the curriculum . . .the list goes on. Mr. Durkin writes, "Private industry and community play a crucial role in providing opportunities for students. Too often urban schools are associated with the center of poverty-stricken, crime-filled areas. But urban areas also house businesses, foundations, centers for the arts, and other magnificent resources to be tapped. Strong educational leadership can transform learning opportunities, the perception of learning and students’ lives for years to come."

UEF21’s Ed McMillan, Facilities Planner with Milwaukee Public Schools, has worked with CEFPI in organizing the existing data for study under the Where Children Learn program. By analyzing student test scores in school buildings of different quality and adequacy while controlling for such variables as student motivation, socio-economic status and race/ethnicity, we can draw conclusions on the effect of facility conditions on learning. The study is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 1999.

Research – February 24, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland – Ed Kirkbride/Dr. Lorraine Maxwell

Training – March 4, NJIT, Newark, NJ – Sean O’Donnell

Technology – February 26, Columbia University Teacher’s College, Robert Kirkbride

Communications – February 15, Philadelphia – Prakash Nair

Sustainable Schools – April 22, NE Regional Conference Workshop, Joyce Lee

Sponsors & Grants – January 29 and March 26, Boston – Jon Epps

Facility Assessment – Sept. 17 and 18 – NJIT, Newark, NJ – "REFP" Workshop – Nadine Chin-Santos

All committee chairs are requested to provide their written reports to Ed Kirkbride or Prakash Nair by April 10th for participation and presentation at the April 24th NE Regional CEFPI Conference.

Committee reports will be the basis for a consolidated report of UEF21-NE Chapter initiatives to each of the regions as well as to the CEFPI Board at their meeting on May 13-14. Where possible, a representative from UEF21-NE will attend the regional conferences and Board meetings to make presentations.